Modular safety cell for residential, industrial and commercial buildings

ABSTRACT

Modular safety cell for residential, industrial and commercial buildings, suitable for protecting people who take refuge in it during earthquakes or other natural disasters, constituted by tubular elements ( 1 ) of high-resistance steel which are connected by couplings ( 2 ) also of high-resistance steel, said tubular elements ( 1 ) being disposed parallel to each other to form flat or curved surfaces, wherein said surfaces connect to each other by couplings ( 2 ), said surfaces and said couplings ( 2 ) are at least three, that said tubular elements ( 1 ) are fixed in said couplings ( 2 ) by adequate blocking means ( 3 ), said cell is covered externally by means of anti-detritus protection ( 4 ) and said cell is covered internally by lining panels ( 5 ) which imitate the materials of the walls, the ceiling and the flooring of the home, office or workshop.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention concerns a modular safety cell for residential, industrial and commercial buildings, suitable for protecting the people who take refuge inside it during earthquakes or other natural catastrophes in such a way as to guarantee that said people are not struck by collapsing constructions or falling detritus. The safety cell fits perfectly into the body of the building where it is situated, and does not disturb either the normal functions nor the aesthetics of the building.

STATE OF THE ART

During seismic events there are diverse instructions that are imparted to populations, some affirm that it is advisable to take refuge under the bed or under tables, others to stay under supporting girders instead, still others to run away; others advise people not to do so, because they could be struck by the collapse of the buildings' structures. Certainly, in some public buildings there exist “super-safe” areas in which, in the case of seismic activity, it is indicated to take refuge in such a place, but houses have only the anti-seismic protection required by the criteria of construction of the building. It would be necessary to individuate an area of a house or of a building without limiting its present use; without, therefore, limiting the daily habitability of the same, it would be too easy to take an “armoured wardrobe” and insert it into a house, depriving the area of daily use.

One solution to the problem of making safe a living space is given by JP10306613 in which a corrugated tube is described, which is used to protect the people who find refuge there in the case of an earthquake.

The proposed solution, whilst making safe a part of the habitation, completely alters the appearance and habitability of the same habitation and furthermore it is difficult to mount.

The place to be made safe should be at the centre of the house or building, reachable by everyone immediately, without opening specific doors, descending stairs or losing precious time.

From the point of view of installation it should be a structure that is mountable without the use of specialized labour or particular equipment.

-   -   1) Mounting and use must be simple and clear.     -   2) There must not be any architectural violence to the building.     -   3) It must be lightweight, in order not to create any further         burden to the building.     -   4) It must have a cost that is accessible to all.     -   5) It must be a product that can be standardized and shipped all         over the world.

FR275223A1 describes a safety cell for residential, industrial and commercial buildings, suitable for protecting people who take refuge in it during earthquakes or other natural disasters, constituted of tubular elements (1) of metal, which are connected by joints (21, 31), also of metal, said tubular elements (1) being set parallel to each other to form flat or curved surfaces, in which said surfaces connect to each other by means of joints (21, 31), said surfaces and said joints are at least three, said tubular elements (1) are fixed to said joints by suitable means of blocking (the narrowed ends of section of the tubular elements (1)), said cell is covered externally by a means of anti-detritus protection.

Said cell does not have any means of regulation and covering for its placement, either by measure or with a material similar to the environment into which it is desired to be placed, and does not foresee a means of reinforcement through the use of curved elements.

US2009/296420A1 describes an anti-intrusion safety cell that is proof against forced opening and bullet-proof, in which the walls, the pavement and the ceiling are covered by steel panels (860).

Said cell also presents the same limitations and the same inconveniencies as those present in FR2753223A1.

The safety cell should, in the case of an earthquake or other natural catastrophes:

-   -   a) Resist against the total or partial collapse of a building or         of one or more floors (relative to the model of a structure that         is intended to be purchased). Therefore, this product must have         a very clear certification of resistance to loads.     -   b) Resist partial or total collapses, even those horizontal         (walls or adjoining structures).     -   c) Should not stiffen the building, creating limitations to the         seismic elasticity of the same.

The technical problem that is intended to be resolved is that of creating a safe refuge, easily reached by the building's inhabitants, that can be easily placed into the habitation without modifying its structure, its appearance or its habitability:

The solution to this problem is given by the safety cell, subject of the present invention, built of special, high-resistance steel, covered internally by panels, externally by a protective net or by a steel sheet that is also perforated, as anti-detritus protection. The structure is modular and of diverse shapes and dimensions, constituted of:

-   -   a) walls of special steel tubes, covered by panels, with         specific shapes, in order to guarantee maximum resistance.     -   b) a basic structure of special, high-resistance steel tubes,         predisposed to have “finishings” such as tiles or parquet or         such fitted.     -   c) a high-resistance upper structure.     -   d) a system of anti-detritus protection of high-resistance steel         net or perforated steel sheet, which envelops the outside of the         structure.

These specifically assembled modules can be used, for example, in a corridor, creating a “counter-corridor type” tunnel, taking up only a few centimeters of width and a few in height. Or in a changing-room or in other parts of the house.

The structure, which is covered internally by panels, needs only to be painted to conform with the furnishings of the house.

The high quality level of the materials used permits the requisites of resistance and lightness.

The modularity of the project permits the construction of the safety cells of diverse dimensions and resistances, besides the creation, inside said cells, of further systems of protection.

It should be taken into account that the invention foresees that the basic structure can be rested on rubber supports, other than which the lateral panels are at a span with respect to the walls, while the upper part is situated at a certain distance from the ceiling.

The structure can be easily dismantled, removed, and, in case of seismic activity, those panels of plasterboard that may be damaged are easily removable and can be substituted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 represents a lateral view of a first embodiment of the safety cell, subject of the present invention.

FIG. 2 represents a section of a first embodiment of the safety cell, subject of the present invention.

FIG. 3 represents a lateral view of a second embodiment of the safety cell, subject of the present invention.

FIG. 4 represents a section of a second embodiment of the safety cell, subject of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

A modular safety cell for residential, industrial and commercial buildings, suitable for protecting the people who take refuge inside it during earthquakes or other natural disasters, constituted of tubular steel elements (1) of high resistance, which are connected by joints (2), also of high-resistance steel. The tubular elements (1) are set parallel to each other and are connected by means of the joints (2) in which they are held firm by suitable means of blocking (3). The tubular elements (1) which are connected in pairs to said joints (2) form flat or cylindrically shaped surfaces.

The safety cell can also be regulated in width and in height; to regulate the width or the height of the safety cell the tubular elements (1) can run in the joints (2), determining the desired width or height. For each length of the tubular elements (1) there is a slot within which the width and the height of the safety cell can be regulated. To vary the length of the cell, more cells of modular length can be connected by suitable means of connection.

For the characteristics which it possesses, the safety cell can be easily put into an area of passage of an apartment or of a house such as, for example, a corridor or in a little-used room such as, for example, a closet or a changing-room.

Said cell is covered externally by a net shielding against detritus (4), held firm by means of blocking on the external surface of the tubular elements (1), said means of blocking may advantageously but not exclusively be the same that hold the tubular elements (1) firm in the joints (2).

Said cell is covered inside by cladding panels (5) which may be, advantageously but not exclusively, of plasterboard or of wood on the lateral walls and on the ceiling, whilst the floor (6) is clad advantageously but not exclusively in wood or plastic materials that imitate the appearance of materials for floorings such as marble, ceramic, etc.

In a first embodiment, represented in the FIGS. 1 and 2, the safety cell is formed by the tubular elements (1) that shape two horizontal planes and two vertical planes, the tubular elements (1) of each horizontal plane are connected to the tubular elements (1) of each vertical plane by four joints (2). The tubular elements (1) connected by the joints (2) in which they are held firm by means of blocking (3) are covered internally by cladding panels.

The tubular elements (1) which form the base are covered inside by cladding panels of wood or of plastic, that reproduce the flooring of the space in which the safety cell is placed. The tubular elements (1) which form two vertical walls and the covering horizontal plane are covered, always on the inside, with cladding panels (5) of wood or of plasterboard in such a way that said plasterboard panels can be painted in the same colour as the walls or with the colour that is preferred.

Said tubular elements (1) are protected externally by a means of anti-detritus protection (4), constituted of a protective net or of a steel sheet which is also perforated.

In the second embodiment, represented in the FIGS. 3 and 4, the safety cell is formed by the tubular elements (1) which constitute the base of the safety cell and by the tubular elements (6) which, set parallel to each other are of an arched shape and, forming a cylindrical surface, create a vault or another decorative element when they are connected by a joint (2) between them.

Advantageously but not exclusively, the blocking elements of the tubular elements (3) can block both the tubular elements (1) in the joints (2) as well as the covering panels. Both in the first and in the second embodiments, the safety cell adheres to the walls of the space in which it is positioned, and does not occupy but a few centimeters of width, and while furthermore guaranteeing the occupants a safe refuge, does not modify the functions of the space in which it is situated and therefore, in the case of a corridor, permits free passage without hindrances.

Finally, it is situated in the space without notably modifying the appearance, or rather, with a little fantasy, confers a further furnishing possibility.

The discovery, it should be well understood, is not limited to the representation given by the figures, but may be perfected and modified by those skilled in the art, without, however, exceeding the limits of the patent.

The present invention consents numerous advantages and to overcome difficulties that could not have been overcome with the systems on sale at present. 

1. Modular safety cell for residential, industrial and commercial buildings, suitable for protecting people who take refuge inside it during earthquakes or other natural catastrophes, constituted of tubular elements (1) in high resistance steel that are connected by joints (2), also of high resistance steel, said tubular elements (1) being set parallel to each other to form flat or curved surfaces which are connected by means of said joints (2), said surfaces and said joints (2) being at least three, said elements being tubular (1) blocked in said joints (2) by means of suitable blocking means (3), said cell being covered externally by means of anti-detritus protection (4), characterized by the fact that said safety cell is regulated in width and in height, and that to regulate the width or the height of the safety cell the tubular elements (1) are slide-able in the joints (2), determining the width or height desired and that said cell is covered internally with covering panels (5) which imitate the materials of the walls, ceiling and the pavement of the home, office or workshop.
 2. Safety cell according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said safety cell is formed by the tubular elements (1) which constitute the base of the safety cell and by the tubular elements (6) which, set parallel to each other, have an arched form and, forming a cylindrical surface, create a vault.
 3. Safety cell according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said means of anti-detritus protection (4) are constituted of a protective net or by a sheet of steel which is also perforated.
 4. Safety cell according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the internal cladding panels (5) of the walls are of plasterboard.
 5. Safety cell according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the surface of the base, composed of said tubular elements (I) is set on supports of rubber.
 6. Safety cell according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that both the lateral surfaces and the upper surfaces are set at a determined distance from the walls and the ceiling respectively. 